Flowers Are Bait

Chapter 23:

Chapter 23:

When the two left.

“Hey, Lee-yeon.” Hwang Jo-yoon stretched out his arm towards her. Just then, Kwon Chae-woo sitting next to her pulled her back onto her seat. Hwang Jo-yoon waved his hand in the air and Lee-yeon looked puzzled.

“Lee-yeon, I’m worried.” Kwon Chae-woo clung to her closely. His body temperature was warm. “Who is he?”

“Ahm...” Lee-yeon didn’t know where to begin. As she hesitated, his arm on her waist pulled her closer. She couldn’t tell whether it was anxiety or vigilance that was making him act that way but when she saw Hwang Jo-yoon flinch she realized it was the latter. “Is he someone I know?”

She could understand why he was anxious. If Hwang Jo-yoon was an acquaintance, then it would make Kwon Chae-woo feel awkward to not remember him. The memories she didn’t want to remember came unbidden to her mind. She swallowed her bitterness and answered him.

“He used to be a senior at the hospital where I used to work years before,” she said, “You don’t know him. So, don’t worry about it.”

“Ah... okay,” said Kwon Chae-woo, nodding slowly. But he didn’t retrieve his arm from her waist. Rather, he had both his arms around her and pulled her close. She wanted to tell him not to do that.

“Lee-yeon, who is he?” asked Hwang Jo-yoon, glancing at her waist.

“Yes, Lee-yeon. Introduce us,” said Kwon Chae-woo.

Lee-yeon straightened her back at a sudden warm touch she felt through her clothes. “This is Kwon Chae-woo. He’s the man I live with.”

I will just say we live together....

But Hwang Jo-yoon’s eyes widened. “You-you’re married?”

She was at a loss for words. Kwon Chae-woo leaned towards her and whispered, “You should at least nod. He is waiting.”

Her head began to hurt from overwhelming stress. She was reminded of how helpless she had felt at her tiny place. Hwang Jo-yoon would always follow her and she couldn’t even afford to move to a new place at that time.

On days when Lee-yeon took detours not willing to go home out of fear, he would burst into a rage. She had always gotten angry at her humble beginnings. Nevertheless, she had forced herself to bear with it because she had to fill in her practice hours at the hospital. She had tolerated everything so that she could have her own practice, her own quiet life.

And she finally made it this far by herself. And now...

“Why are you making such a fuss about this?”

“No, Lee-yeon. Was the time between you and me of any importance to you?”

“Clearly not. I never liked you. I hated you. You made my life miserable. It has been years since I left that hospital. I made my own place in the world. And I couldn’t be any happier about it. As you can see, I have a husband. I have my own practice. I am living the best life I could have dreamed of. It looks like you are still stuck in the phase of your life where you act like a spoiled brat and look down on me. Grow up.”

“Lee-yeon.” He licked his lips.

“You really are shamelessly making a fuss in front of my husband.”

“Is he really your husband?!” he suddenly shouted.

“What did you say?”

“Bring the family relations certificate! Until then, I won’t believe it!”

Lee-yeon froze. She didn’t any anything. Hwang Jo-yoon didn’t trouble her. But if Kwon Chae-woo asked for it, then everything would be revealed. Her lie would be caught. She felt a prick at her conscience. She hated Hwang Jo-yoon for trying to ruin her life even after all these years.

Just then, she heard a faint grunt. It was a sound that only Lee-yeon could hear.